Post-op incision pain length/sleeping on stomach

[james2021 160]

How long did your post-op incision pain last? I know it'll take a while to fully heal but wondering how long it just feels like having a big open cut on your body where the main incision is.

Also, I have always been a stomach sleeper. I didn't get any doctor instructions about how to/how not to sleep, but have found that sleeping on my stomach/the pressure against the incision helps with the pain. But it feels wrong to sleep on my stomach. Did any of you do this?

Thank you!

[lizonaplane 1,612]

I'm curious too because I always have slept on my stomach. I haven't had surgery yet.

[newyorklady20 97]

I am totally a stomach/side sleeper. The first few nights were rough, but I laid on my side and then slid a pillow under that side so I could be propped up in that position but not flip over totally to my stomach. Once I found a comfortable spot, that worked. It would wake me up if it slid out and I accidentally rolled onto my stomach with just cramping. Now, it seems to be gone. (I'm 2 months today).

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

Had my surgery on the 19th and still can't sleep on my sides. Only two days ago started sliding down in bed on staying on my back all night to sleep (otherwise I was sitting up in bed) but that becomes uncomfortable. Can't wait to be able to sleep on my side. For now though not even trying to prop pillows under my sides works. I just feel such great burning and tearing type feeling and it scares me so I don't do it. LOL

[mistymorning 13]

2 weeks today!

First few days were a bit rough for me as I've always been a side/ stomach sleeper. Rough in a sense that i woke up few times at night to readjust my sleeping position.

By the 5th-6th I could comfortably lie on my stomach (which turned out to be soooooo much more comforting) and back to sleeping side since

To be fair my incisions weren't painful since Day 0 they're just slight discomfort as the gas pain was more disturbing to me.

Also side note, i find elevating headrest to sleep on my back was very comfortable too!

[Arabesque 7,246]

I slept on my side or almost flat on my tummy after surgery without a problem but that’s how I always sleep (have nightmares if I sleep on my back 🤷🏻‍♀️.) But how your incision sites are post surgery will dictate your sleeping position - it will be very individual. My incision sites were basically pain free from the beginning - just a little tender. No real bruising either. I didn’t even have gas pain (don’t hate me). I took my last pain med on day 4 but don’t think I really needed it that day.

Waist bands were uncomfortable for a week or two so I just rolled them down to under the wounds.

If you are a side sleeper a body pillow might be a supportive.